Ski pole and grip therefor



Feb. 3, 1953 R. F-. WHEELER sxx POLE AND GRIP THEREFOR Filed June 27, 1951 3rwentor Razz 07L J wheeze/ Gttornegs Patented Feb. 3, 1953 SKI POLE AND GRIP THEREFOR Ralph F. Wheeler, Springfield, Mass., assignor to A. G. Spalding 8; Bros. Inc., Chicopee, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application June 27, 1951, Serial No. 233,789

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to ski poles and to handle grips therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide a ski pole with a grip and strap assembled thereon which are of simple construction and which may be easily assembled and secured to the shaft of the pole in the field without molding equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a grip in which the strap may be adjusted or replaced in the field without the requirement of special tools.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a grip with a solid, cushion top to provide for comfort in climbing with the pole.

A feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the end of the strap which is snubbed around the end of the pole and secured in place after the grip has been assembled on the shaft.

Another feature of the invention is the use of a self-closing slit whereby access to the fastening means for the strap located within the grip may be had from the exterior of the grip,

Another feature of the invention is the formation of the self-closing slit of such a width that the end of the strap may be drawn therethrough during the assembling and the walls of the grip adjacent the slit being of such resilience that they may be stretched to permit the end extending through the slit to be tucked back into the grip and into engagement with the shaft therein.

Another feature of the invention resides in the formation of a cushion member of resilient material to extend between the end of the shaft and the strap.

Another feature of the invention is the extension of the cushion member to overlie the full end of the shaft, particularly when steel shafts are used, toprotect the strap from being cut by the shaft.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view partly in section of the ski pole with the grip and strap assembled thereon.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the grip showing the self-closing slit therein.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the grip with the strap partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is a view of the grip and strap in partially assembled relation.

A Fig. 5 is a view of the grip and strap in partially assembled relation with the shaft in position.

As shown in the drawings, the ski pole comprises a shaft H) having its upper end enclosed in a handl grip H provided with a looped wrist strap 12. In the upper end of the shaft 1 have provided a plug 13 of any suitable material for closing the shaft and also providing a means into which the fastening means may extend as will be later described.

The handle grip, in the preferred form of the invention, is molded as a separate member and is provided with an outer configuration as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 so as to provide a cushion top I la and a longitudinally extending gripping portion 1 lb. The grip is molded with a socket Ml therein. Adjacent the inner end of the socket there is provided a strap-receiving opening IS in the side wall which slants upwardly and merges with the end of the socket. Adjacent the lower edge of the strap-receiving opening there is a transverse wall 56 of resilient material, preferably molded integrally with the grip, which extends inwardly as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 and divides the socket into a transversely extending strap-receiving recess Ma and a shaft-receiving socket or bore Mb. The strap-receiving recess continues longitudinally along the side Wall of the socket past the end of the wall to form a longitudinally extending recess Mc along the side of the shaft as shown in Fig. 1. The side of the grip opposite to that in which the strap-receiving opening is provided is formed with a slit IT which is self-closing but which may be spread as will be described. If desired, a reenforcing ridge It may be formed around the slit to assist in its self -closing feature.

The strap I 2 is in the usual form of a loop with its ends secured together. In the preferred form of the invention this is accomplished by means of a plurality of longitudinally spaced eyelets 19 or the like which also provide reenforced openings inthe strap to receive the strap-fastening means. As shown in Fig. 1, the end of the strap is secured to the side of the shaft opposite the strap-receiving opening by having a fastening means 20 extending through the eyelet and into the shaft. While the fastening means may take many forms, in the illustrated form of the invention it comprises a screw threaded into the plug [3 in the end of the shaft. The strap then extends over the top of the shaft and through the opening l5 in the side of the grip. It will be noted in this position that it is in effect snubbed around-the end of the shaft to give it additional holding power.

As shown in Fig. 1, the Wall l6 of resilient material is disposed between the strap and the end of the shaft and forms a cushion layer therebetween which permits some slight yielding of the strap. Furthermore, when the shaft is made of metal, the wall is made to completely overlie the end of the shaft and also serves as a protecting Wall between the strap and shaft to prevent cutting or other damage to the strap by the edges of the shaft.

The strap, grip and shaft may be assembled in various ways. In the herein illustrated form of assembly, a cord or a suitable tool (not shown) is threaded through the slit and through the strap-receiving opening of 'the grip and is engaged with an eyelet in the strap and the end of the strap pulled transversely across and through the grip, the slit I? being wide enough to permit the end of the strap to-.be pulled therethrough and the wall 16 deflecting as shown in Fig. 4. The end of the shaft is then positioned in the shaft-receiving bore Mb of th grip and pushed into place abutting the wall 56 as shown in Fig. causing the strap to be properly positioned in the grip. Thereafter, a screw driver or other similar implement 2! is inserted through the slit and the lower wall adjacent the slit which is relatively thin and yielding is stretched as shown in Fig. 5

to permit the end of the strap to be tucked back into the longitudinal recess Me so that it lies along the end of the shaft. The strap-fastening means 20 is then passed through the slit and through the eyelet in the strap and into the shaft to lock the strap in place. As soon as the screw driver is removed the self-closing slit snaps back into position and seals the interior of the grip.

Should it be desired to replace the strap, it is merely necessary to spread the slit, remove the fastening means'with a screw driver and withdraw the'strap and pull in a replacement strap to position and secure it in place, all of which can be accomplished readily and without any special tools.

'If it is desired to adjust th length of the strap if it is desired to further insure against relative 1- rotation-of the shaft and grip, the end of the shaft may be dipped in suitable adhesive before it is assembled.

I have found that with the ski pole formed according to the present invention the'entire top o'f-the grip provides'a cushion effect in the longitudinal direction of the grip which is extremely helpful during climbing operations and yet does not in any way affectthe operation of the grip for running or other maneuvers.

Variations and -modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1'. A ski pole comprising'a shaft; a handle grip having a bore to receive the end of the shaft and a relatively thick walled end portion forming a cushion top, said grip being formed with a strapreceiving means extending inwardly from an opening in its side face; a strap secured to said shaft and extending over the end of the shaft and through said opening; and a resilient cushion member secured to and forming a part of the grip and extending between the end of the shaft and the strap.

2. A ski pole comprising a metal shaft; a molded handle grip composed of resilient material and having a socket bore to receive the end of the shaft, said grip being formed with a strapreceiving means extending inwardly from an opening in its side face; a strap secured to said shaft and extending over the end of the shaft and through said opening; and a resilient wall integral with the grip and extending inwardly of the grip and over the socket between the end of the shaft and the strap to overlie the shaft and to protect the strap against cutting by the edges of the shaft.

3. A ski pole comprising a shaft; a molded handle grip composed of resilient material and having a strap-receiving recess extending inwardly from a strap-receiving opening in its side face; a strap projecting from the strap-receiving opening with the inner end of the strap extending over the end of the shaft; and means for securing the strap to the shaft including strapfastening means passing through the strap and into the shaft, said grip having a self-closing slit in line with the securing means and providing an opening large enough to permit the strap-fastening means to pas therethrough and into strapfastening relation with the shaft after the grip and strap have been placed on the shaft.

4. A ski pole comprising a shaft; a molded handle grip composed of resilient material and having a socket to receive the end of the shaft, the inner end of the socket abutting the end of the shaft, said grip having a strap-receivingrecess extending inwardly from a strap-receiving opening in its side face transversely above the inner end of the socket and longitudinally along the wall of the socket on the side opposite said strap-receiving opening; a strap projecting from the strap-receiving opening with the inner end of 1 of the strap disposed in the transverse recess to extend over the end of the shaft and'in the longitudinal recess to extend along the side of the shaft; and means fastening the strap to the side of the shaft, said grip having a self-closingslit in the side face opposite said strap-receiving opening and extending inwardly and intersecting the longitudinal recess, said slit providing an opening large enough to permit the strap to be assembled and the strap-fastening means to pass therethrough and into strap-fastening relation with the shaft after the gripand strap have been placed on the shaft.

.ski pole comprising a metal shaft; a molded resilienthandle grip of rubber and having a socket to receive the end of the shaft, the inner of the socket abutting the end of the shaft, grip having a this walled cushion top provided with a strap-receiving recess extending inwardly from a strap-receiving opening in its side face transversely above the inner end of the socket extending longitudinally along the wall of the socket opposite said strap-receiving opening, the portion of the grip between the transversely extending recess and the end of the socket forming a protective cushion for the strap; a strap projecting from the strap-receiving opening with the inner end of thestrapdisposed in the transverse recess to extend over the cushion and in the longitudinal recess along the side of the shaft; and.strap-fastening..rneans passing through the strap in the longitudinal recess and into the side of the shaft to secure the strap thereto, said grip having a self-closing slit in the side in line with the strap-fastening means and providing an opening large enough to permit the strap-fastening means to pass therethrough and into strap-fastening relation with the shaft after the grip and strap have been placed on the shaft.

6. A ski pole comprising a shaft; a molded handle grip composed of resilient material and having a socket to receive the end of the shaft, the inner end of the socket abutting the end of the shaft, said grip having a thick walled cushion top provided with a strap-receiving recess extending inwardly from a strap-receiving opening in its side face and transversely above the inner end of the socket and extending longitudinally along the wall of the socket opposite said strapreceiving opening; a strap projecting from the strap-receiving opening with the inner end of the strap to extend over the end of the shaft and along the side of the shaft; and means fastening the end of the strap to the side of the shaft, said grip having a self-closing slit intersecting the longitudinal recess to provide an opening large enough to permit the end of the strap to be passed therethrough during assembly thereof and the grip overlying the longitudinal socket being thin enough to permit it to be stretched to insert the strap end into engagement with the shaft, said slit also permitting the strapfastening means to pass therethrough and into strap-fastening relation with the shaft after the grip and strap have been placed on the shaft.

7. As an article of manufacture, a molded handle grip to be assembled on a shaft, said grip being composed of resilient material and having a socket in one end thereof and a thick-walled cushion top at the other end, said grip having a strap-receiving opening in its side wall adjacent the inner end of the socket, a wall extending inwardly into the socket from the side wall adjacent the lower side of the strap-receiving opening to overlie the end of the shaft and dividing the socket into a strap-receiving recess connected to said strap-receiving opening and a shaft-receiving bore.

8. As an article of manufacture, a molded handle grip to be assembled on a shaft, said grip being composed of resilient material and having a socket in one end providing a bore to receive the end of the shaft and a face wall to abut the end of the shaft when the grip is assembled thereon, said grip being formed with a strapreceiving recess extending inwardly from a strapreceiving opening in its side face and above the end face to permit the strap to extend over the end of the shaft and provide a cushion member, said recess extending along the wall of the socket opposite said strap-receiving opening to permit the end of the strap to extend along the shaft, and said grip having a self -closing slit in the side face opposite said strap-receiving opening and extending inwardly and intersecting the strapreceiving recess along the socket, said slit providing an opening large enough to permit the strap-fastening means to pass therethrough and into strap-fastening relation with the shaft after the grip and strap have been placed on the shaft.

9. As an article of manufacture, a molded handle grip to be assembled on a shaft, said grip being composed of resilient material and having a socket in one end providing a bore to receive the end of the shaft and a face wall to abut the end of the shaft when the grip is assembled thereon, said grip being formed with a strap-receiving recess extending inwardly from a strap-receiving opening in its side face and above the end face to permit the strap to extend over the end of the shaft and provide a cushion member, said recess extending along the wall of the socket opposite said strap-receiving opening to permit the end of the strap to extend along the shaft, and said grip being formed with a self-closing, transversely extending slit in the side face opposite said strap-receiving opening extending inwardly andintersecting the strap-receiving recess along the socket, said slit providing an opening large enough to permit the strap end to pass therethrough during the assembly thereof and the strap-fastening means to pass therethrough and into strap-fastening relation with the shaft after the grip and strap have been placed on the shaft.

RALPH F. WHEELER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,208,365 Gerber July 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 152,516 Switzerland May 2, 1932 

